Transition device for car couplers



J. WILLISON TRANSITION DEVICE FOR CAR COUPLEHS Feb, 17. 19.25.

4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 24, 1923 INVENTOR ATTEOIRNEY Feb. 17. 1925.

J. WILLISON TRANSITION DEVICE FOR uncourmans Filed Nov. 24, 1922 4 -Sh t 2 INVENTOR A TTORNEY J. WILLISON TRANSITION DEVICE FOR CAR COUPLBRS Filed Nov. 24, 1922 4 ets-Sheet 5 I Li A INVENTOR wn/wa ,6 E1111. ATToNEY Feb. 17. 1925.

4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Nov. 24, 1922 IN V EN TOR AT ORNEY Patented Feb. 17, 1925,

JOHN WILLISON, F CLEVELAND, OHIO,

PATENT OFFICE.

ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO

NATIONAL MALLEABLE AND STEEL CASTINGS COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO,

A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

TRANSITION DEVICE FOR CAR COUPLERS.

Application filed November 24, 1922. Serial No. 602,956.

ence being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is an elevation of a car coupler having my improved device attached thereto coupled with a, coupler of. the draw hook type and showing the position of the couplers when the draft tension has been relaxed Fig. 2 is a plan thereof partly in section, but with the transition member in draft position; Fig. 3 is a section on lines III-III of Fig. 2; Fig. a isan elevation thereof showing partly in dotted lines the draft position of the transition member and in dotdash lines its position when inoperative; and Figs. 5, 6 and 7 show the transitional member inplan, side elevation, and rear elevation, respectively. i

My invention relates particularly to transitional coupling mechanism and is designed to provide means for permitting cars equipped with automatic couplers to be coupled with cars equipped with couplers of other types, such as of the draw hook connection type. To this end I have provided a transitional or supplementalcoupling device which can be carried by the automatic coupler andmay be easily brought into'and out of-operative position so that the coupler may be ready for coupling with an automat-iccoupler of the same type or with a draw hook arrangement, or other forms of coupler. v

.My improved mechanism is arranged to be i supportedbeneath the coupler head in inoperative position and to be swung between the jaws of the coupler into operative position, and is to be connected by a link or links with a coupler of another type, such as a draw hook arrangement. My invention also consists in the various features which I shall hereinafter describe and claim.

Referring to-thedrawings, 2 indicates a coupler head of the rigid aw type shown in my Patent No. 1,201,665 dated October 17 1916, having jaws 3 and 4 and a lock 5 normally projecting forward of the intermediatebufiing face 6 of the car coupler. The under side of the coupler head has a depending rib 7 running longitudinally of the coupler head and having an elongated slot 8 the-rethrough which has a vertical enlargement 9 at its rear end.

p The transitional member 10 has in its supporting portion a longitudinal groove 11 which is intended to receive the rib 7 on the under side of the coupler head when the member 10 is in operative position. The member 10 is provided with a slot 12 for reception of the key 13, which is oblong in cross section to conform to the shape of the slots 8 and 12 inthe rib 7 and member 10, respectively. The member 10 at its forward end has an upwardly inclined extension 14 which at its upper end has a transversely ex tending draft arm 15 terminating in a flange 16. The angled forward face 17 of the extension 14 is intended to bear in the crotch 18 of the jaw 3 and the flange 16 at the other end of the draft arm 15 is intended to bear against the side face 19 of the lock 5 when 111 operative position. A draft link 20 is carried by the draft arm 15. The flange 16 1s of such size and shape that the draft link 26 can not be slipped over it, and hence the link 20 must be applied by slipping the link 'over the rear end ofthe transition member 10 when such member is disconnected from the coupler 2. In addition to preventing the removal of the link 20 the flange 16 also affords a broad bearing against the side 19 of the lock 5. p

lVhen the transition member 10 is not in use it depends beneath the coupler head 2 from the key 13, which in such position seats in the enlargement 9 at the rear of the, slot 8, andits bearing against the shoulder 21 in the enlargement 9 will prevent the member 10 from moving forward or interfering with the operation of the coupler when in such position, as is indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 4;. When the transition coupling is to be used, the link 20 is raised and placed over the opposing draw hook 22, whlch brings the parts into the position shown in Fig. 1 Then as the cars move apart the member 10 swings forwardly and up, pivoting about the pin 13 and shoulder 21 until the face 17 of extension 14 has entered behind .the lowerv extremity of the pulling surface 18 of the jaw By this time the pin 13 has been rotated sufficiently to release it from the shoulder 21, whereupon it 1s free to slide forwardly in the slot 8,'all0wing the surface 17 to come into pulling engagement with jaw 3, and the flange 16 to take its bearing against the lock 5.

\Vhen under draft the pulling stresses are transmitted through the link 20 to the draft arm 15 and through that arm to. the pulling j aw 3 and the lock 5. Asthe key 13 is. not at the extreme forward end of the slot 8 no pulling stresses willbe taken up through it. The member 10 is reinforced against twisting strains by reason of the long bearing ,afforded by the rib 7 int-he groove 11 of the member 10. \Vheuthe cars approach each other in hati g, or when the transition device is dropped to lowered position, themember 10 swings downwardly, and is pushed rearwardly as the surface 17. slides down surface 18 of jaw By the time the surface 17 has dropped out of engagement with jaw 3, the pin '13 has reached the enlarged part of slot 8, and further rotation of the member 10 causes the pin to engage shoulder 21 of the slot, thus holding the entire transition device back, away from interference with a mating automatic coupler.

My improved transition mechanism is extremely simple in application and arrange .meut an d may be readily ,applied to couplers of existing design.

."lhc terms and expressions which I have employed are used as terms of description audnot of limitation, and I haveno intent on, inthe use of such terms and expressions, of excluding any mechanical equivalents of the features shown and described, or portions thereof, but recognize that various structural modifications are possible within the scope of the invention claimed.

hat I claim is:

t. In coupler mechanism, the combination with an automatic coupler of a supplemental. coupling member pivoted to the undenside of the coupler and depending thereunder whenin lowered position, the said member when under drafthaving a draft arm engaging portions of the coupler-and adapted to transmit draft therethrough, said draft arm having a link mounted thereon for coupling with another coupler, and means for maintaining themember and its arm in draft position.

2. In'coupler mechan-isnn'the combination WltllftllfllltOlllELtlC coupler of a supplemental coupling member suspended from the under side of the coupler and depending therefrom when in lowered position, and when in operative position-having ,an extension terminating in a' draft arm engaging pulling faces of the coupler, said draft arm also supporting a linkconnection with a coupler of a different type.

3. In couplermechanism the combination with an automatic coupler of a supplemental coupling member having a slot and pro ection engagement with the under side of a car coupler, and a stop shoulder in said slot arranged to hold the said member 1n noninterferingposition, the member upon upward movement being released from the said shoulder.

4:. In coupler, mechanism, the combination with an automatic coupler of a supplemental coupling member having a draft armwvith a pulling. bearing in the coupler jaws, and a rearwardly extending portion having a long bearing surface on thecoupler, and a link carried by the draft .arm' for a connectlO11,Wltl1 a coupler of a differenttype.

5. In coupler mechanism, the .combination with an automatic coupler of a supplemental coupling member having a laterally extending draft arm, the draft. arm having on oneside a pulling bearing on. the pulling jaw of the coupler and on the other a bearing from which .pulling'strains are transmitted to thecoupler, ,and a draft link carried by the draft arm, the said member under bufi being arranged to droop .below the coupler head to avoid bufiing blows.

6. In coupler mechanism, the combination with an automatic coupler of a supplemental coupling member suspended fromj the under side. of the coupler and having a draft arm; a flange on'the draft arm comprising a bearing through which draft stresses may be transmittedto the coupler, a link mounted on, the draft arm, the least dimension of the flange of the draft arm in width or heightbeinggreater than the distance-between the sides of the link so. as to: prevent removal of'the link over the flange.

7. In coupler mechanisnnthe combination with an automatic coupler of asupplemental coupling member pivoted to the coupler and depending therefrom when in loweredipost tion, the said member whennnder draft having a draft arm engaging portions of the couplenand adapted totransmit draftfltherethrough, said'draft arm carrying a connection; for coupling. witha coupler of'di-flerent --ty-pe 81 Incoupling mechanism, the combination with an automatic coupler of a supplemental coupling member pivotedto the coupler and depending therefrom when a in loweredposition, and when in operative po 1 ,52e,ess

lowered position, and When in operative po- W sition having an extension terminating in a draft arm engaging pulling faces of said coupler, said draft arm also supporting a connection for a coupling with a coupler of a difi'erent type, the said member under buff l5 being arranged to droop below the coupler head to avoid bufling blows.

, JOHN WILLISON. 

